Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has firmly rejected allegations of supporting banditry, calling on his accusers to present evidence to back their claims.
In an interview on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” on Tuesday, Matawalle defended his previous efforts to engage in dialogue with bandits, a strategy he claims led to the recovery of abducted individuals and weapons in Zamfara State.
“They should bring any proof of that,” Matawalle stated. “I wasn’t the only one who dialogued with bandits. The governors of Niger and Sokoto states did the same, but because it’s Zamfara, I’m being singled out.”
He further elaborated on the complexity of Zamfara State, describing it as “a very complex state with terrible human beings and devilish ideas.” He suggested that those accusing him of aiding banditry might themselves be involved in the criminal activities they claim to oppose.
Matawalle pointed to his integrity, noting that he had publicly sworn on the Holy Quran to clear his name. “I was the only governor who swore to the Holy Quran that I have no hand or connection with banditry.
I challenge all the politicians, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal, to do the same. None of them could take the oath, which means they are part of it.”
He also emphasized that his willingness to confront criminal elements in Zamfara had made him unpopular with those benefiting from the insecurity. “The people who oppose me do so because I go after them,” Matawalle remarked, confirming that his opponents include politicians.
Reflecting on his controversial dialogue approach, Matawalle cited its successes, including the recovery of weapons and the release of thousands of abducted persons, including foreign nationals. “The dialogue brought significant success,” he asserted.
Matawalle also drew parallels with former President Muhammadu Buhari’s negotiations with bandits to secure the release of the Chibok girls, calling it a global practice. “Governments around the world enter into agreements to save lives,” he added, defending his strategy as a necessary response to Nigeria’s security challenges.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of insecurity, Matawalle expressed frustration over attempts to undermine his efforts. “People are spreading misconceptions out of hate, but I have no regrets because we achieved a lot of success without paying a single kobo in ransom,” he stated.
In addition to the banditry accusations, Matawalle dismissed claims by the current Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, that he siphoned ₦70 billion in state funds. “In my four years, I never received that money. The records are there with the Ministry of Finance,” Matawalle said, accusing Lawal of fabricating lies to mislead the public.
Matawalle further criticized Governor Lawal for prioritizing baseless accusations over addressing the state’s ongoing insecurity. “I thought, for now, he should concentrate on providing good governance to the people of Zamfara State,” Matawalle said. “Governance is a continuous process, and if he is in that seat today, tomorrow he will not be.”
Despite Lawal’s claims and the evidence provided to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Matawalle stated that the commission has not made significant progress in recovering the alleged funds.
“First, he said ₦70 billion, now he says ₦240 billion. It’s not a surprise, considering who Dauda is. This is someone who doesn’t know what he is talking about,” Matawalle concluded.
